WO2009018946A2

WO2009018946A2 - Submerged power generation plant approachable from two directions by a flow

Info

Publication number: WO2009018946A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/006241
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benjamin Holstein; Hans Borrmann; Norman Perner
Original assignee: Voith Patent Gmbh
Priority date: 2007-08-03
Filing date: 2008-07-29
Publication date: 2009-02-12
Also published as: WO2009018946A3; DE102007036810A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a submerged power generation plant comprising a support structure that supports a transverse supporting framework; a vertical lifting system for raising and lowering the transverse supporting framework on the support structure; and at least one turbine-generator unit which is mounted on the transverse supporting framework by means of a joint in such a way that a swiveling movement can be performed about a longitudinal axis of the transverse supporting framework. A separate motor unit is associated with the joint to perform the swiveling movement.

Description

Bidirectional submersible immersion power generation plant

The invention relates to a bi-directionally drivable, diving power generation plant, in particular in the form of a freestanding in a ocean current power plant, the present application in particular a device for adaptation to the conditional by the tide change the direction of flow treated, which also serves to start a maintenance position.

Freestanding, diving power generation plants can currently shut down

Flow rates of 2 - 2.5 m / s are used economically. For this purpose, water turbines, for example, with a propeller-shaped structure, attached to support structures for receiving kinetic energy from the Umunqsströmung. Depending on the depth of the water and depending on the nature of the body of water, the retaining structures may be formed, for example, as a fixed pillar placed on a ground foundation. Alternatively, the support structures are anchored, for example via cable or chain systems only on the seabed and form in a certain depth of water floating floatable units.

Characteristic for tidal currents is the regular change of the flow direction with ebb and flow. Accordingly, it is necessary for the efficient use of energy, a generically freestanding underwater power plant, which is driven by tidal currents, form so that an energy extraction of the water turbine from the flow with different directions of flow is possible. For power generation, two oppositely directed directions of flow at low tide and high tide are relevant in the main.

In the simplest case, an anchored system can be used to adapt to different flow directions, which rotates freely around an anchor point. The disadvantage, however, is that a large circle of motion is not in most cases

BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE and thus such systems can not be efficiently combined into an energy park with multiple underwater power plants. If, instead, fixed installations and in particular installations based on a foundation are used, an adaptation to changing directions of inflow is then simple if the turbine is configured as a leelayer. In this case, a hinge connection is used to articulate a spacer on the support structure with the turbine attached to the downstream end of the spacer. Typically, this is a propeller-shaped turbine with two or more turbine blades that are rotor blade-shaped.

A disadvantage of a leech runner, however, is that a certain shading effect by the support structure (tower shadow) is unavoidable. For reasons of efficiency, it is therefore advantageous to use a windward rotor, i. an arrangement of the turbine upstream and at a certain distance from the support structure to which it is at least indirectly attached. However, there is no possibility for passive guidance with a variable flow direction for a windward runner, so that the position of the turbine must be actively guided to the flow direction. The drives that have become known for this purpose typically include complicated turning concepts in the area of the tower. These are disadvantageous in view of the desire to build low-maintenance underwater power plants, as the additionally used gear and engine components lead to an increased probability of failure. Accordingly, an increased effort for regular inspections results, which is disadvantageous in view of the difficult accessibility of underwater power plants.

Therefore, it was sought ways to make the simplest possible adaptation of a freestanding tidal power plant to a flow from different directions. One proposal is to use a rotor-shaped turbine and to allow a flow from opposite directions via a blade angle adjustment. Through this Although measure can be dispensed with a rotation of the entire turbine in the flow, however, the problem of increased maintenance costs, due to additional movable components and the associated actuators, relocated to an equally error-prone turbine-side device.

Furthermore, it is desirable, in addition to the adaptation to the flow direction, to be able to move the turbine and preferably a generator unit connected thereto into a maintenance or assembly position. This requires on the one hand a turning out of the flow and on the other hand, in most cases, a lifting of the turbine-generator unit to the water surface. Accordingly, to initiate an inspection, the turbine will assume a certain relative position to the ambient flow, so that the above problem also occurs in this case.

From KR 20 2006 0011746 a generic, diving power generation plant has become known, the support structure comprises two vertical pillars based on the seabed, between which extends a crossbeam. The crossbeam carries a plurality of turbine generator units designed as a windshield. By turning around the

Longitudinal axis of the crossbar, the turbine-generator unit can be pivoted by 180 °. In addition, there is the possibility of lifting the crossbar guided by the lateral vertical pillars.

To carry out the above-mentioned possibilities of movement of the crossbar a connected to the Vertikalpfeilem chain drive is proposed. For this purpose, a sprocket is attached to both ends of the Quertragwerks, which serves to deflect a chain, which is guided along the vertical pillars. The chains are driven on both sides of the crossbeam by two independent motor units, which are located above the

Water level and are supported by the vertical pillars. Depending on the direction of rotation of these chain drives takes place a rotational movement of the sprockets and thus pivoting the turbine-generator units by the rotation of the crossbar or a vertical movement of the sprocket without simultaneous rotation, so that the crossbar and the turbine-generator units seated thereon can be raised or lowered.

A disadvantage of the said combined lifting and swiveling device is the high total weight of the arrangement to be moved. This leads to a correspondingly large-sized chain drive. In addition, the opposite of the seawater environment unencapsulated drive is susceptible to corrosion. Furthermore, the fouling problem is an additional difficulty of this multi-unit construction.

The invention has for its object to provide a diving power generation plant, which is bi-directionally flowable. In addition, it is desirable to have an additional position with reduced

Flow, for example, to initiate service measures to be able to start. The above object is to be carried out with the help of a robust, adapted to long service intervals device. This is particularly preferably maintenance-free.

The above object is solved by the features of the independent claim.

The starting point of the invention is a diving power generation plant comprising a transverse support for supporting at least one turbine-generator unit. Preferably, a plurality of turbine-generator units is attached to the Quertragwerk. The Quertragwerk is attached to a buoyant or diving or fundamental on the seabed support structure. Particularly preferred is the use of at least two vertical pillars, in particular a double arrangement of these vertical pillars, which are arranged on both sides of the Quertragwerks. According to the invention, the range of motion of the transverse support structure is limited to a vertical movement, so that in this way the turbine-generator unit attached to the transverse support can be raised and lowered. Preferably, the vertical pillars are designed so that the vertical movement of the Quertragwerks can take place until the complete lifting of the turbine-generator unit above the water level.

To perform a pivoting movement about the longitudinal axis of the transverse support structure of the attachment point of each turbine-generator unit is formed on the Quertragwerk as a hinge connection, which allows in the sense of a hinge joint rotation of the turbine-generator unit in a plane whose surface normal runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the Quertragwerks , The turbine-generator unit therefore executes a pivot about the axis of the transverse support. Preferably, a movement is performed by 180 ° during pivoting, so that for the resulting two end positions advantageously each stop and locking means of the hinge connection are assigned.

The device according to the invention allows the independent pivoting of a single turbine-generator unit, so that in the case of a plurality of turbine-generator units attached to a transverse support a setting can be converted to a flow change into individual partial movements. This leads to the advantage that a smaller mass has to be moved for each individual pivoting movement.

Another advantage that results from the individual pivotability of each turbine-generator unit, is the fact that each separately a turbine-generator unit can be moved to a service position, which is substantially perpendicular to the two opposite directed main inflow directions. Accordingly, a maintenance work can be performed on a turbine-generator unit, while at the same time the other provided on the transverse support turbine-generator units can remain in their normal operating position. To perform a pivoting movement of the articulated connection of the turbine-generator unit is assigned to the transverse support a motor unit, according to a preferred embodiment for this purpose, a hydraulic drive is used. The supply of the hydraulic drive can be realized by means of a guided along or in the transverse support and in one of the vertical pillars hydraulic line. The other components of the hydraulic system are preferably arranged above the water level, for example in those parts of the vertical pillars that protrude above the water level.

A hydraulic drive leads to a high starting torque, which can be exploited for a pivoting movement, in addition, a gear unit and in particular a worm gear can be provided for the reduction and the momentum introduction to the joint connection. Furthermore, the use of a hydraulic drive in the case of several turbine-generator units attached to the transverse support allows the use of a single hydraulic circuit from which the hydraulic drives associated with the individual articulations are fed, the respective individual control being effected via valve devices. Alternatively it can be provided as a motor unit to the articulated joints an electric drive machine, again using an intermediate gear is preferred.

The assignment of the pivoting movement to the individual turbine-generator units allows an embodiment of the lifting device for the Quertragwerk, which is structurally simple. In the simplest case, a crane-like, rope-based lifting device is used. Alternatively, the lifting can be done by a hydraulic device or by means of a toothed rod. Furthermore, it is possible to make the lifting device for the transverse support structure robust, so that the total weight to be lifted in this case from the transverse support structure and the turbine generator Unit, or a plurality of these units, can be formed fail-safe.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to figure representations, which show in detail the following:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of one on two lateral

Vertical pillars of a vertically moveable transversal structure with three turbine generator units, which can be individually swiveled.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a single turbine-generator unit in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the transverse support.

Figure 1 shows schematically simplified in a perspective view an embodiment of the invention. Shown is a first, a second and a third turbine-generator unit 4, 5, 6, each comprising a propeller turbine 8, 9, 10, which is attached to a nacelle. Each of the turbine-generator units 4, 5, 6 is supported on a transverse support 3, which is designed as a cross-beam for the illustrated embodiment.

Further embodiments not shown in detail of the Quertragwerks 3 do not consist of a single transverse element, but of several interconnected support elements, for example, this may be a plurality of horizontal, diagonal braced connections or a grid or matrix-shaped bracing. In the present application, a transverse support structure 3 is therefore understood to mean a support structure which essentially brings about a load-bearing transverse connection to a support structure (floating or foundation). Accordingly, it will preferably extend horizontally from the support structure and thus have a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis. The support structure advantageously comprises two supports attached laterally to the transverse support structure 3 - in FIG. 1 these are the first vertical pillar 1 and the second vertical pillar 2 Row arrangement of vertical pillars, wherein each two adjacent vertical pillars are connected by a Quertragwerk 3 and so several successive energy generation systems according to the invention arise.

The transverse support 3 may preferably be moved vertically together with the turbine-generator units 5, 6. For this purpose, a Vertikalhubsystem 15 is used, which is advantageously formed on both sides in the first and in the second vertical pillars 1, 2. In addition to cable systems are racks or hydraulic lifting systems for the realization of Vertikalhubsystems 15 into consideration.

According to the invention, each of the turbine-generator units is pivotable relative to the supporting structure, so that an adaptation to a change in direction in the flow can be performed. In this case, each turbine-generator unit can be pivoted separately, so that the weight to be moved for each pivoting operation is reduced. A typical weight of a turbine-generator unit is about 100 tons, which weight is reduced due to buoyancy forces with a corresponding design of the nacelle in the submerged state to 50 tons. Furthermore, it is additionally possible to facilitate the pivoting by the attachment of counterweights on the leeward side of the connecting joint.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the first turbine-generator unit in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the transverse support 3. Shown is the formation of the first turbine-generator unit 4 as a Luvläufer, wherein a three-bladed first propeller turbine 7 is used as an example. This runs by means of a hub 14 on the housing of the nacelle 13, said hub 14 may include parts of the electric generator, in particular a directly driven rotor unit of the electric generator, not shown in detail, the stator components of the same will then be encapsulated within the nacelle 13. Furthermore, the direction of flow of the first turbine-generator unit 7 is sketched by an arrow. Furthermore, the flow hood 10 is preferred foamed in order to reduce the weight of the submerged first turbine-generator unit 4 by means of the buoyancy thus generated.

Each of the turbine-generator units is associated with a hinge connection 11 and a separate motor unit 12. The articulated connection 11 is preferably designed so that a rotational movement of the turbine-generator unit is limited to a movement in a plane whose surface normal is predetermined by the direction of the longitudinal axis of the transverse support 3. Accordingly, the articulated connection 11 only allows a pivoting movement to the transom used for the present embodiment as a transverse support 3.

Particularly preferred for driving the pivoting movement of the respective articulated joints 11 associated motor unit 12 is used, which is designed as a hydraulic drive. The torque generated by the hydraulic drive is reduced by means of a worm gear. Furthermore, the hydraulic supply system above the water level, for example, in the sketched in Figure 1 upper pillar portion 25, and thus arranged in a dry and easy to reach for servicing equipment part. The hydraulic supply is then supplied by means of a hydraulic line to the individual motor units 12 for the respective articulated connections 11. This hydraulic line can be laid in at least one of the vertical pillars and in the interior of the transverse support 3 and a common hydraulic circuit forming all motor units 12 feed, which then each hydraulic valves are assigned for individual control.

FIG. 2 shows the first turbine-generator unit shown in a first position A, which is approached for the direction of flow marked by the arrow. When changing the direction of flow, a pivot can be performed by 180 ° in a second position B, which allows a flow from the opposite direction. A third position C, which is substantially at 90 ° to the first position A and the second position B and thus in Vertical direction is oriented, can then be approached when the turbine-generator unit is rotated out of the flow for service purposes and brought to the water surface. For lifting then serves the vertical lifting 15, which moves the entire arrangement of Quertragwerk 3 and the seated thereon turbine-generator units. The positions A, B, C to be approached by means of the gondola pivot can each be assigned to stop devices. Further, it is possible to use a locking device for each of these positions, alternatively, the necessary holding torque in a certain position by the setting of the articulated joint 11 associated with the motor unit 12 is effected.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 first vertical pillar

2 second vertical pillar

3 transverse structure

4 first turbine-generator unit

5 second turbine-generator unit

6 third turbine generator unit

7 first propeller turbine

8 second propeller turbine

9 third propeller turbine

10 flow hood

11 articulation

12 motor unit

13 gondola

14 hub

15 vertical lifting system

20 water levels

25 upper pillar part

30 seabed

A first position

B second position

C third position

Claims

claims

A dipping power plant comprising 1.1 a support structure supporting a transverse support structure (3); 1.2 a Vertikalhubsystem (15) for raising and lowering the Quertragwerks (3) on the support structure;

1.3 at least one turbine-generator unit (4, 5, 6) which is fixed by means of a hinge connection (11) on Quertragwerk (3) so that a pivoting movement about a longitudinal axis of the Quertragwerks (3) can be performed;

1.4 of the articulated connection (11) is associated with a separate motor unit (12) for carrying out the pivoting movement.

2. Power generation plant according to claim 1, characterized in that the support structure comprises a first vertical pillar (1) and a second

Vertical post (2), which are arranged at both ends of the transverse support (3).

3. Power generation plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the articulated connection (11) for limiting the pivoting movement comprises a first stop for a first position (A) and a second stop for a second position (B), wherein from the first position (A) to the second position (B) a pivoting movement is performed by 180 °.

4. Power generation plant according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a third stop in a third position (C) is provided, wherein the turbine-generator unit (4, 5, 6) is in a service position.

5. Power generation system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor unit (12) is associated with a transmission.

6. Power generation plant according to claim 5, characterized in that the transmission is a worm gear.

7. Power generation plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the motor unit (12) is designed as a hydraulic drive.

8. Power generation plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Vertikalhubsystem is designed as a cable system or as a rack drive or as a hydraulic system.

9. Power generation plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure has an upper part which projects beyond the water level (20) and arranged in the at least parts of the supply system for the individual articulated joints (11) associated with motor units (12) are.

10. Power generation plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the turbine-generator unit in the submerged state generates a force of its weight at least partially compensating buoyancy.